Category: Event Reviews

“How can we be grandparents if we don’t have children?!”

One of the many enigmas of The Game of Life. Amid tasteful quips about Life (which were surely more impressive than the typical sarcastic “Now I can get a life”), wondering why the fates had determined that only one player deserved children, and constantly suing archenemies, the BICLC Board Game Night raged. It was a fierce battle of survival of the fittest, with only short breaks to grab pizza, soda, and cookies. Countries engaged in warfare for total world domination (Risk). At one point, some brave soldiers uttered a loud battle cry: “I Want It That Way” (Backstreet Boys).

One BICer remarked that the Board Game Night was a relaxing time for freshman and sophomore BICers who survived World Cultures exams. According to sophomore David Espinoza, the event was designed to “unite BICers from different grade levels” and everyone had a great time, even individuals who are more introverted. He said this was because while playing board games, “[your] inner child comes out.”

Freshman Kennan Dickens enjoyed the informality of the Board Game Night, because it helped BICers, especially other freshmen, meet more people “on a different platform.” Because of the smaller group of students present at the event, games (particularly challenging ones) improved camaraderie. This was successful, as sophomore Jenn Dickey states, because students were able to become part of a community with a group of people you see every day and to get to know them further than simply sitting in Large Group lectures together. Freshman Joseph Webster further commented that the environment was easier to meet people in than, for example, Dr Pepper Hour.

Thus the BICLC Board Game Night became a team-building exercise that brought BICers together through laughter (triumphant or not) and free food. Even those who sustained heavy game losses suggest enthusiastically that BICers attend the event next year. Perhaps they have ulterior motives and are looking for someone they can be victorious over, but brave souls must venture forth to discover The Good. In the inspiring words of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore: “happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers” to attend Board Game Night.

Clarissa Anderson is a sophomore BIC student majoring in journalism. 

Now when Al Qaeda kicks you out, we’ve got a serious problem on our hands  . . .

                                                                                             – Dr. Lynn Tatum

 

While still part of Al Qaeda the group was simply referred to as AQI (Al Qaeda in Iraq). Once excommunicated, the extremists spread into Syria and became known as ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. As they advance through Syria and into the region called the Levant, however, this group has been labeled ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and Levant). Muslims, however, refer to this group as DAISH (Al-Dawlah Al-Islamiyah fe Al-Iraq wa Al-Sham), as they do not want ISIL to be associated with Islam at all.

No matter what you call them, ISIL is waging a war against what they call “Crusaders.” In vanquishing “Crusaders” such as Americans and dissenting Muslims among other outsiders, ISIL hopes to create a new and perfect caliphate, the end-all-be-all Islamic state. They believe their faith gives them moral clemency when it comes to killing.

On Wednesday, November 5, 2014, over one hundred BIC students attended the BIC event “Examining ISIS.” The panel discussion was led by Dr. Lynn Tatum, Dr. Mark Long, and Dr. Sam Perry (each a beloved and esteemed BIC professor in his own right), with a focus on the implications of ISIL as they advance through Southwest Asia.

If you missed the panel you might wonder, “What is ISIS?” ISIS, or as it is now called, ISIL, started as a branch of Al Qaeda (AQI), but was kicked out due to its truly extreme ideology. Dr. Tatum vividly described the historical motivation behind ISIL’s origins. Upon their excommunication, this group spread with one goal in mind: create a new caliphate, restoring the glory of Islam. Tatum compared these Islamic extremists to that of the Knights Templar, a group of Christian warriors who, during the crusades, killed many heretics and heathens in the name of God in order to establish a Christian empire. Just as the Templars do not represent all of Christianity, ISIL does not represent all of Islam, just a violent perversion of the faith.

But you might ask, “If ISIL is so violent, why would anyone sign on with them?” According to Dr. Long, ISIL’s twisted ideology has a powerful influence over many people. For instance, when an initiate joins ISIL, he receives a new name.

“You can find videos of this anywhere,” Long stated. “Men at the airport, tearing up their passports. They don’t need them anymore. They have been reborn.”

Initiates are also promised eternal paradise for their actions against the “Crusaders” as they pursue the formation of a new caliphate. The same ideology not only grants ISIL soldiers the clemency to kill, it obliges them to do so, as otherwise a new caliphate could not be instituted. Dr. Long explained that Al Qaeda was excited and overjoyed when the United States invaded Iraq, as it gave Al Qaeda the chance to invade Iraq and “defend” it. This culture of death within ISIL ideology is persistent.

Consequently, you might think “Well, why do they hate us so much?”

Dr. Perry said, “In the words of former president George W. Bush, `They hate us for our freedom.’ No. They don’t. That’s not enough.”

ISIL members have an ideological fundamentalist conviction to kill “Crusaders.” Even other Muslims (often called Apostates) are not safe from ISIL. This is due to the extensive narrative that ISIL has created for itself.

“The past four US presidents decided to bomb Iraq,” Perry said. “But it hasn’t been effective. You can’t bomb a narrative.”

While Al Qaeda (literally translated as ‘the base’) was content in being a structure for a new caliphate, ISIL would rather act as a dynamic conquering agent, putting anyone who disagrees to the sword. ISIL is terrorism without borders.

The advance of ISIL has been covered on every media outlet imaginable, but I can personally say that this hour and a half long panel has been more informative than any newscast. If you missed the panel, find a friend who went or seek out any of these three fantastic professors.

As ISIL expands, it is important that as BIC students—and as Americans—we stay informed.

 

(Author: Lee Shaw)

We are all just humans trying to make the best of this life and serve each other in the process.                                                                                                                         – Megan Rapp, ’07 BICer

 

 

 

2007 BIC graduate Megan Rapp delivered the annual BIC Homecoming lecture on Friday, Oct. 31 to a room full of BIC students, many clad in Halloween costumes.

Rapp has worked for Teach for America, the United Nations, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  She currently leads the Africa team for USAID and works to develop credit guarantees to help fund development in Africa.

Despite her many adventures beyond Baylor, Rapp chose to speak about one particular experience.

“I decided in the spirit of BIC I would tell a story,” she said.

She told the story of a day spent in Africa–one that started in Dar Es Salaam and ended in Zanzibar.

Rapp was in Africa on business and hoped to spend a relaxing weekend on the beaches of Zanzibar.  She spoke no Swahili but was determined to arrive at her weekend destination.

After various problems related to the language barrier and the limited availability of transportation, Rapp found herself in Zanzibar, but her luggage was in Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Rapp said she cried in the Zanzibar airport and left for her hotel with only the promise that her luggage would arrive that afternoon.

The taxi drive to her Zanzibar hotel brought another problem—a taxi driver who spoke little English and did not know the location of her destination, the Sea Cliff hotel.

When Rapp asked the driver where he was taking her, he responded with, “Yes, yes,” and a thumbs up.  The driver eventually found his way to the hotel, with the help of directions from a friend.

Once at the hotel, Rapp decided she deserved some coffee and managed to appreciate the beauty around her despite her less-than-ideal circumstances.

“The sunrise had happened, and the sky was beautiful,” she said.

Her day continued, filled with the discovery of a gothic church, the kindness of strangers, and the arrival of her luggage.

However, not all of Rapp’s travels abroad had such happy endings.  One particular trip to Haiti ended in disaster.

Rapp was in Haiti when the earthquake hit on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at 4:46 p.m.  She rattled off the date and time without hesitation.  She said it’s a moment she will not forget.

“It was the absolute worst ever day ever,” she said.

Rapp had just left a meeting and was in the parking lot when tragedy struck.  One of her coworkers was still in the building.  He never came out.

She is fluent in Haitian Creole, so she was able to help Dr. Louise Ivers treat the injured.

Rapp ended the lecture with an encouraging word to the BIC freshman.

“Think of [BIC] as a year-and-a-half program,” she said.

Just make it to around January or February of your sophomore year, and then it will all be okay, she said.

She also gave some advice to all students:

1. Be ok with failures.
2. Go for every opportunity.
3. Go above and beyond your job description.
4. Know your weaknesses.
5. Be humble and recognize when you need help.
6. Be grateful in all situations.

 

 (Author: Kara Blomquist)